Short Wave The Evolution Of Cancer Treatment
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Mar 4, 2024 
Mariana Stern, a cancer epidemiologist and professor at USC, dives into the intricate history and evolution of cancer treatment. She discusses the latest FDA approval for a groundbreaking skin cancer therapy. Stern highlights the significance of personalized treatment strategies and the unique genetic factors that contribute to disparities in cancer types, especially among minority populations. The conversation also touches on the advancements in precision oncology and the critical need for equitable access to these life-saving treatments.
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Cancer's Root Cause
- Cancer is fundamentally caused by DNA mutations.
- These mutations cause uncontrolled cell proliferation, leading to tumors.
Early Cancer Treatment & Discoveries
- Cancer treatment has a long history, with early attempts using pastes, salts, and cauterization.
- In the 1700s, a link between chimney sweeps' soot exposure and cancer was found, leading to child labor laws.
Cancer: A Death Sentence
- Historically, cancer was often a death sentence, with surgery as the primary treatment.
- Surgery alone often failed because it didn't eliminate all cancer cells, allowing regrowth.